dom of Heaven. against all the fons and daughters of men, that are not thus born again. It is true, CHRIST hath opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers: But can any perfon, with the heart believe in JESUS CHRIST, without being born of the Spirit? No, verily For whofo believeth that Jefus is the Chrift, is born of God. As none can be regenerate by the Holy Spirit, that is not a believer in JESUS the Son of GOD; fo none can be a believer, but what is regenerated; and to them, and them only, the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven are, and will be opened: As he faith in the Prophet; open the gates that the righteous nation, that keepeth the truth, may enter in *. But all others, who are unholy and unjust, fhall be excluded from it, and have their portion with the hypocrites, and unbelievers.

The door of Heaven is fhut,

Birth is the beginning of life: And as he that is not quickened, and born of the flesh, cannot enter into the natural world; fo he that is not quickened, and born of the Spirit, cannot enter into the fpiritual world: that is, into the Kingdom of CHRIST, and of GOD. And until this work is paffed upon a foul, he can no more enjoy, nor understand the nature, and bleffings of the Kingdom of GOD; than a perfon can know, or

• Isa, xxvi. 2.

enjoy

enjoy the things of this prefent world, before he is born into it. Indeed the natural man hath a rational foul, and actually exists in the flesh; but he is so far from having any true knowledge and enjoyment of GOD on that account, that he is farther from it than if, as an intelligent creature, he had no actual existence at all +: by reason of fin, his rational foul is full of pride, darkness, and fenfuality; and his carnal mind is enmity against GOD. Whereby he is rebelliously fet against him, and and carried at fuch a diftance from him, as it is impoffible for any inanimate, or irrational creature to be: Therefore the dwelling of fallen man muft be for ever with devils, in perpetual darkness, and everlasting torments; except he is regenerated, and made a new creature in CHRIST JESUS,

Was it poffible for a man, in his natural ftate, to enter the Kingdom of GOD (which it is not) he could not poffibly have any enjoyment of the bleffings and glories of that moft holy place, because of its perfect, and infinite oppofition to his finful, proud, and carnal spirit. Even in this world, the natural man cannot hear the things of GoD, nor behold the manifefting light of God's truth, without being burdened in his mind, and tormented in his confcience; therefore he hates it, and flees Y 3 from

+ Matt. xxyi. 24,

from it: Much lefs could he patiently hear the holy Saints and Angels in Heaven for ever praifing and adoring GoD and the LAMB; in perpetual hallelujahs admiring and glorifying GOD, not only for his goodness and mercy, but also for his holinefs, juftice, and truth. But the nearer a finner in his fins approaches unto GOD, the nearer is he being utterly confumed: For, as devouring fire to stubble fully dry; fo is the glory of God's holinefs, justice, and truth, to the unbelieving, unjust, and the unclean.

Therefore, Reader, as this is a matter of eternal importance to thee, whether thou art born again of the Spirit or not; I beseech thee, most earnestly and seriously, to confider and examine, whether or no thou thyself art born again of GOD.-Which leads me,

THIRDLY, To point out the most essential properties of the new creature; and to fhew by what marks the regenerate perfon may be known, and is diftinguished in Scripture, from one that is not rege

nerate.

In fpeaking on this head, I purpose not to mention fuch marks as are peculiar to a few eminent believers only;

+ Rev. xix. 1-7.

only; or the occafional, but transient experience of Christians, at particular seasons, and in peculiar circumstances: But I intend to mention fuch marks, and fuch only, as are common to all Saints, and, in fome degree or other, are abiding with them, at all times, and in all circumftances; because they are ef fential to their being regenerate, or new creatures. And, as I fhall point out no other than what are exprefly mentioned in GoD's word; I fhall pay no regard to the objections and cavils of those persons who treat with neglect and fcorn all kinds of marks and evidences, either because they themselves have them not, or fancy that they are got above them. Now the

1st Mark of a perfon's being born of the Spirit is this, he is spiritually minded ||, or affects and favours fpiritual things; this must be the certain effect, and natural confequence of a perfon's being born of the Spirit: For that which is born of the Spirit, is fpiritual. It is not poffible that a perfon can be regenerated by the Spirit, and ftill abide under the power and dominion of his old carnal tempers and difpofitions; for they that are carnally minded, plainly fhew that they are only born of the flesh And this is that which the Apostle exprefly teaches us, in these words; They that are

after, that is, born after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit: Therefore he infers, to be carnally minded, is death; but to be fpiritually minded, is life and peace. Now, every regenerate person, who is in CHRIST JESUS, muft be thus minded in the bidden man of the heart, notwithstanding the continual oppofition and warring of his finful flesh: And as he feels in himself the motions of fins from the flesh, rebelling against the soul, and urging him to obey it in the luft thereof; fo, on the contrary, he feels in the inner man, from the Spirit, motions. of righteousness unto holiness: Wherefore he faith, with my mind I ferve the law of God; but with the flefh the law of fint.But that which is fpiritual and heavenly, fhall prevail against that which is carnal and earthly; for whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: He hath alfo promised that fin fhall not have dominion over them, because they are not under the law, but under grace: And again he faith, walk in the fpirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lufts of the flesh. Wherefore the Apostle gives us the character of a Chriftian, in these words; He walks not after the flesh, but after the spirit.Thus, to be fpiritually minded is effential to the new creature, and the general mark, or character of all believers.

2. The

Rom. vii, ult.